Okay, I've changed my mind and started work on an application to make this slightly easier. The idea is to avoid the need for Java knowledge and development tools (except for the Java Virtual Machine, of course), while keeping all the power of the current API.
I can do that by integrating a different programming language (python, which is famously easy to use) into the application, so you can write your instructions in a text box, press a button, and have it run. Right now it works, although the interface is very rough. All of my Java work has been server-side and I'm still learning how to make pretty windows with it (If anyone has that knowledge, help would be appreciated).
For simple changes, what I have now is not more complex to use than editing the files by hand. As an example, if you want to change all the groups speed to 5 knots (as Jace11 mentioned), you would just write into the textbox:
Code:
group.speed = 5
group.updateWaypointSpeed ()
Right now I'm adding some small details (such as being able to choose the file to edit
), and some convenience calls to create new ships without having to fill every field. I will have that, as well as some basic documentation, either later today or tomorrow.
Is anyone interested in testing the program when it reaches that stage? I could do with a few more eyes looking at it. If so, let me know and I'll send it over. Once it's a bit more mature than that, and I have arranged for hosting somewhere, I will do a public release with full source.